Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-18
ELECTING AU. $. SENATOR.
A MoOrefield Democrat Speaks Of Candi
dates and the Caucus.

open ground in favor of the reelection OF
Senator Camden to the U. S. Senate. This
you have perfect right to do, and nobody
has any right to deny the privilege. You
will, however, permit Democratic voter
to express through your columns his dis
sent from your policy. am sure you will
do this.
1t cannot he successfully denied, but
that the Democratic party of West Virginia
is, at present, confronted by greater perils
and dangers than ever before in its history
1t should be the pleasure, as it surely is
the duty, of every good and faithful DEM
ocrat in the State to use all his efforts to
avert the impending dangers and perils by
which the party is surrounded No man
is o good Democrat who will rush his party
headlong into danger when it is pointed
out and can be avoided without the sacri-
flee Of honor or principle. Now, unfor-
tunateiy for the party, and growing
out Of the selfish ambition of
many of our prominent men, cliques and
factions have been formed within the party,
and from this course has come mainly most
of our present troubles. believe the
great body of the Democratic party of this
State take no stock in any of these things
They are opposed to factions and cliques
and rings for all purposes, and'more especi-
ally are they opposed to them when formed
to further the personal ambitions of any
particular man of set of men. The great
body of the party knows nothing but its
Democratic principles, and desires simply to
see worthy men elected to carry them out.
These factions and cliques represent but a
small fraction of the party in the State,
but some how or other have taken posses
sion of the party organizations in large
sections of the State, and hence bitter
warfare has been waged by them until
decent and faithful Democrats remain
quietly at home. Our recent small major
ity is the result.
There is unquestiOnably deep-rooted
and widespread opposition to the reelection
of Mr. Camden. He is charged with un-
clean methods in pOlitics-with being in
the interests of monopolists as against the
interests of the peOple-with manipulating
the last election in such way as TO defeat
anti-Camden Democrats in Democratic
counties, and elect Camden Democrats in
Republican counties, with using the pat
TOnagc at his command in such way as
further his own personal ambition ut the
expense of the best interests of
the party, and many other
things Whether any or all of these
charges be true or not, large mass Of
the honest and faithful Democrats of the
State believe them to be true, and are,
therefore, bitterly opposed TO the re-elec-
tiOn of Senator Camden. So intense has
the feeling of opposition to him become
that / believe his reelection will result in
certain defeat in West Virginia in 1888,
and, therefore, think he should not be re-
turned to the Senate. Mr.. Camden is not
great man by any means. He is good
business man, but his knowledge OF states
manship is equalled by dozens of men in
any county in the State. Then why
should he or his friends try TO force him
upon the party in the face of all these
things? There are thousands of
Democrats in the State able to represent
the State in the Senate of the United
States with as much ability as he does.
There is no reason in the world for his per-
siStency in this matter but the gratitica-
tiOn OF personal ambition. The Demo-
cratic party is bigger than any one man or
set of men in it. It's peace and harmony
and ascendancy in West Virginia should
not be endangered TO crafty Mr.. Camden
and his personal following Fidelity TO
party and party principles demand that
this SeltishneSS and factiOnal spirit should
cease, and the rank and file of the party
should take the matter in hand and COM
pei these representatives in the Legisla
ture to take up a new man and elect him.
The best interests of the Democratic party
demand the election of new man who is
4 thorough Democrat of ability and of high
moral and political character; who has had
no lot or part in these brOilS and difficulties,
and who can, after he is elected, treat all
Democrats alike. We must have man
whose election will tend to heal rather
than widen the breach in our ranks. Such
a man the South Branch counties pre-
sent i'll the person of Judge James
ID. Armstrong. He is a man OF rs much
ability "a we have i'll the party he is o
thorough Democrat; he is pure and hon
Orable man, and will bend all his energies
toward reuniting the party by treating all
sides and sections with perfect fairness.
These people feel that, although this is the
most reliable Democratic section of the
State, it has been badly treated in recent
years by the present leadership of the
party. All the leading officers eX-
cept few are located In the Third
and Fourth Congressional Districts. Our
majority and faithfulneSs together with
the man we offer we think entities us to
ask this position, especially at this time
and under existing circumstances. The
election of Judge Armstrong can give Of
tense to no honest and true lover OF llemO-
cratic principles. The locality he is from,
the high character he SuStains, and his un-
questioned fitness tor the position, and the
perilOus situation of the party admonishes
all that his election is the right thing to
do. Let us have peace and harmony IN
the grand old party once more, and all Will
be well but persist in forcing Objection
able men upon the party and disaster and
defeat are bound TO follow.
1t is also held up before Democratic
members of the Legislature, by the friends
of Mr.. Camden, rs great crime, to even
think of staying ont of a caucus. They
liken caucus of members of the Legisla-
ture to a convention. Now, little reflec-
ton will convince any reasonable man that
there is vast difference between the two.
Before member of the Legislature can
participate in the election of L. S.
Senator he must take an oath to support
the Constitution of the United States and
ofthis State, and toperform and faithfully
discharge the duties of the position. The
election of 4 United States Senator is one
of the duties deVolved upon him. When he
votes for one he acts under his oath of office.
Now, suppose he goes into q caucus, and
an unfit and corrupt man is nominated,
what's he going to dO?-vote for him, re-
gardless of the obligations of his oath?
How can an honest man do anything Of
the kind? q What right has any number Of
men to say 10 another man whom he shall
vote for, when he is acting under the sol
emn obligations Of an oath. Besides this,
when members Of the Legislature assemble
in caucus, they simply select a man to vote
for themselves. When they elect him it is
fixed for six years. The people have
nothing to say or do in the matter. If a